Charles Manson's "Commemoration"
Before he was America's most celebrated death row inmate, Charlie Manson was just another long-haired hippie folk singer with a flock of girls at his feet. After almost 30 years in prison good old Uncle Charlie has finally released an album.
"Commemoration" was recorded on the sly above the chapel at Vacaville Prison on and off from 1982-85. The CD was put out by White Devil Records in Seattle but you can write the Manson Work Group, PO Box 85811, Seattle, WA 98105 to get a copy.
Charlie plays acoustic guitar and sings on all of the songs himself. This isn't a collaboration with Bruce Springsteen by far. Since he's turning 60 this might be his only release and we wouldn't want anybody else trying to steal the spotlight from him. No tour plans have been announced, but I'll keep you posted.
It is obvious to the casual listener that during all these years in prison old Charlie hasn't really practiced his guitar playing too much- oh he plays OK, but his style is a little choppy, and lacks any flair. Charlie does have a talent for turning a phrase, and that's what really makes this album worth a listen.
For example the second song on the CD "A Piece in Your Heart" includes the following : "Dance on through a burning asshole/ down to the castle/ of a vampire dream." Not really a bad rhyme; asshole- castle, and that's before he really gets going with his "Frankenstein I am / mean man in a can" stuff.
There are some snappy songs included, like "Down in Dixieland" where Charlie shows off his whistling talent, and "Be Free (Be to Be Free)" which is almost upbeat and linear. Other songs run the range of all Charlie's different personas, from outlaw t o clown and back to Mowtown, Charlie does them all.
Some of the enjoyment involved in this CD comes from trying to figure out just what the hell Charlie is trying to say. His songs reject the typical verse-chorus-verse format and instead just seem to flow from his guts. Sometimes he goes off the deep end ranting in the middle of a song, but usually it seems to be part of the song rather than a lapse into psychosis.
Song length ranges from :45 seconds to 7:47 with no central theme apparent. Short songs like "A Tribute to Hank Williams" and "Shakespeare's Clown" don't seem to be included for any specific reason.
Of Course Charlie does dive off the deep end once and a while. On "A Piece in Your Heart" things start off OK, but end up with Charlie screaming "1776!! You think I'm gonna die for that again?!! FUCK YOU! You Carry it back!" What this means is up to you to decide.
I don't really know how available this CD is, I got a copy from a friend and haven't seen it anyplace. I don't think this stuff will be on the radio or MTV anytime too soon; Charlie needs some more practice time for sure.
People I've let listen to the CD have freaked when I told them who it was. If you didn't know it was Charlie you might believe it was one of the bootleg tapes of The Grateful Dead's long dead original singer Pigpen.
I don't really see this as a trend setting release. "Unplugged" CDs have been popular for a while, but I don't see this opening up the death row inmates genre to the masses. I doubt we'll have ÒJohn Wayne Gacy Sings the BluesÓ, of "Jeff Dahmer's sec ret White Album" cluttering up the shelves at Wal-Mart any time soon, but who knows? Country came back, why not Charlie Manson and his "Unglued" set?
